Kansas, USA Middle Cretaceous (70-120 million years) 52 x 65 x 30.5 cm Provenance: Swiss Private Collection 112 million years ago, fish of the genus Xiphactinus audax lived alongside sharks and other creatures in the region where Kansas is today. This predator was better not to be met: the monster could be 4.5 to 6 meters long, and its impressive teeth were long and sharp. Thanks to its physique, it could develop a speed of about 60 kilometers per hour. Its appetite could not be satisfied: other fish, small turtles, pterosaurs, and young mosasaurs fell prey to it, sometimes even members of its own species. At least twelve specimens of Xiphactinus audax were found with prey in their stomachs, including one specimen of a five-meter long Xiphactinus that had swallowed a two-meter long fish, from which the greedy primordial fish probably died. This imposing and museum quality Xiphactinus audax skull shows impressive three dimensionality of preservation and fearsome dagger-like teeth, the largest is over 5 cm long! Professionally mounted on a custom stone and brass stand. SCH?DEL EINES XIPHACTINUS AUDAX Kansas, USA Mittlere Kreidezeit (70-120 Millionen Jahre) 52 x 65 x 30,5 cm Provenienz: Schweizer Privatsammlung Vor 112 Millionen Jahren lebten die Fische der Gattung Xiphactinus audax neben den Haifischen und anderen Kreaturen in der Region, wo heute der US-Bundesstaat Kansas liegt. Diesem Raubtier wollte man nicht begegnen: das Monster konnte 4.5 bis 6 Meter lang sein, und seine Z?hne waren lang und scharf. Dank seinem K?rperbau konnte er eine Geschwindigkeit von etwa 60 Stundenkilometern entwickeln. Der Appetit dieser Fische war nicht zu stillen: andere Fische, kleine Schildkr?ten, Pterosaurier und junge Mosasaurier fielen ihm zu Opfer, manchmal sogar seine Artgenossen. Mindestens zw?lf Exemplare von Xiphactinus audax wurden mit der Beute im Magen aufgefunden, unter anderem ein Exemplar von einem fünf Meter langen Xiphactinus, das einen zwei Meter langen Fisch verschluckt hatte, woran der gierige Urfisch wohl gestorben ist. Dieser imposante originale Sch?del eines Xiphactinus audax in Museumsqualit?t zeigt eine beeindruckende dreidimensionale Erhaltung und furchterregende, dolchartige Z?hne, der gr??te davon über 5 cm lang! Professionell montiert auf einem St?nder aus Stein und Messing.
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